Neochoristodera is a lineage of specialised crocodile-like fully aquatic choristodere reptiles. Noted for their long jaws and large size, these animals were predominant across the Northern Hemisphere, occurring in freshwater and coastal environments across the Cretaceous and early Cenozoic.
Neochoristodera
Fossils of Simoedosaurus
Lateral and dorsal views of a Champsosaurus skeletal mount
Champsosaurus skull
Choristodera is an extinct order of semiaquatic diapsid reptiles that ranged from the Middle Jurassic, or possibly Triassic, to the Miocene. Choristoderes are morphologically diverse, with the best known members being the crocodile-like neochoristoderes such as Champsosaurus. Other choristoderans had lizard-like or long necked morphologies. Choristoderes appear to have been confined to the Northern Hemisphere, having been found in North America, Asia, and Europe, and possibly also North Africa. Choristoderes are generally thought to be derived neodiapsids that are close relatives or members of Sauria.
Image: Philydrosaurus proseilus NMNS
Image: Ikechosaurus sp. NMNS (cropped)
Skeleton of Champsosaurus natator at the Canadian Museum of Nature
Skeletons of Hyphalosaurus, in the collections of the Beijing Museum of Natural History (BMNH)